the government certainly wouldn't let you in. but the free syrian army said okay, pass through this checkpoint. >> this time i went to turkey and crossed over the border into rebel-controlled areas. and you pass through turkish immigration and walk through this sort of no man's land. and then the free syrian army folks who look at your passport. they say welcome. and that's about it. then you're in syria. >> and what goes through your mind? you're in syria. that's not a place a lot of people want to be right now. >> look, i spent a lot of my time pretty scared, frankly, reporting in the case of syria i was in an area that was rebel -- clearly rebel controlled. and so it wasn't as risky as it sounds. and people always look at me, my job and think oh, boy how dangerous. meanwhile, i always think of those photographers and camera crews who are out there. i mean when they hear gunfire their rule is to immediately rush toward the gunfire. and my basic rule of traveling in war zones you never accept a ride from a photographer because t